"I have this old 1911 NM slide"

[DaveInFloweryBranchGA]

I'm not sure if this is the right forum to post this in, but I can't find a forum that's exactly appropriate. I'm hoping you fellas can help me.

I have this old US NM 1911 slide I acquired in a box of parts from a lady who had tried out gunsmithing in her younger years, found it not to her liking and now had this box of various parts. I am familiar with a lot of 1911 slides and work on them, but I am not familiar with this one and would love to have help identifying it and finding the proper set of sights for it.

Markings: It has an "M" marked on the top of the slide just in front of the rear sight mounting area, it is marked NM7791435 on the left side of the slide. On the right side in tiny letters/numbers are MFR 16447 as near as I can tell.

Metal: This slide was rough when I got it and appeared to have had someon starting internal work/filing/gunsmithing/fitting done on it at some time in the past. I cleaned it up and decided to polish it and see how it came up to help ID the type of metal it had. It came up to a georgeous high polish and appears to be some sort of nickel steel and if I had to guess, it was made by Colt or another government contractor using "good" steel.

Front sight slot: There is a narrow front sight slot and it is setup for a "peened in" front sight.

Rear sight cuts: The rear sight has a dovetail cut as well as a long flat running from the rear end of the sight to almost half an inch past the dovetail. The dovetail is cut about 3/8" inch from the rear end of the sight. If someone needs me to take measurements, I can.

I don't know what sort of sights this NM slide needs, but would love to identify them. I can locate a government frame and other parts to go with it if I can identify the correct sights.

thank you for your help,

Dave

[Artful]

Check out more info here
http://www.coolgunsite.com/images/1911/drake%20nm/national_match_notes.htm

Some Post War had Micro sights up until like 1962 or 63...
http://www.milsurps.com/images/imported/2010/12/2wemkom-1.jpg

http://www.nramuseum.com/the-museum/the-galleries/the-new-prosperity/case-47-camp-perry/us-colt-model-1911a1-national-match-semi-automatic-pistol.aspx

http://www.milsurps.com/showthread.php?t=27404

http://www.rockislandauction.com/viewitem/aid/55/lid/3770

if it was pre-war
http://media.liveauctiongroup.net/i/7832/9385736_1.jpg
http://www.icollector.com/Exceptional-Pre-War-Colt-Model-1911A1-National-Match-Pistol-with-Schwartz-Safety-and-Colt-Box_i9385736

[DaveInFloweryBranchGA]

I've done a little more research, found some more information and added to my above post. In addition, I've figured out it is a 1968 Production NM7791435 made by Milo Industries (MFR 16447).

Now that I know the year, I just need to figure out what front and rear sights are appropriate for the slide along with what barrels, bushings, etc and what frames.

Thanks for the pics and the links. I'm betting this slide will use a sight set similar to the one you have there as well.

Plan is to find the appropriate parts, build this slide up, fit it to a receiver and parkerize it, as I think that's how the originals came.

[Mk42gunner]

Some of the Match grade .45's had Bomar rear sights. It seems like every one I saw was mounted high though, like the picture Artful shows of the micro sight.

Every replacement match grade front sight that I ever saw in a parts bin had the same profile as the one in Artful's picture. They all had the narrow tennon for staking in place, too.

Robert

[km101]

From the description of the flat and dovetail, sounds like someone cut it for a low mount sight like the Bowmar or MMC. But you could still use the standard NM sight.

[DaveInFloweryBranchGA]

It's been cut for a low mount sight, but it was done at the factory. Based on the research I've done, a Kensight Manufacturing sight was used in 1968, but I don't know which one and I don't know which front tenon sight either.

What I do know is the front sight was 1/8" and .358" high with a barrel NM 7791414 and barrel bushing NM 7267718 with a serial number on the barrel and bushing.

[Frank46]

Dave, saw a couple that had smith and wesson adjustable sights that looked like they came off a revolver. Hope this helps. Frank

[35remington]

Before starting any further work, be sure the filing/grinding/cutting that was done on the slide has not compromised it to the point that reliable and safe function has been compromised. Throwing good money after bad isn't advisable.

Too many shade tree 1911 "gunsmiths" out there.

[DaveInFloweryBranchGA]

I'm good from that standpoint. Whatever work they did had just been started, so there wasn't much to it. A buddy of mine and I run Aces & Eights Custom Guns here in Georgia with 1911/Smith&Wesson revolvers being our meat and potatoes in the past, though recently I've been looking into refinish/finishing and upgrades on more modern rifles like the AR and AK.

[DaveInFloweryBranchGA]

I believe from research I have done on the internet I have a slide manufactured by Milo from 1968, the year Kensight replaced Elliason after having bought out Elliason as the rear sight supplier. Elliason was the supplier of the rear sight in 1966 and 67. Kensight is still in business, but I have been unable to identify the exact sight used. I believe the sight to be a Bomar copy, but of which Bomar, I do not know. If anyone knows the correct version of the Kensight for that year, please let me know. Here is a couple pics of the 1967 version, made by Elliason:

http://www.coolgunsite.com/images/1911/1967%20NM/1967NM60.jpg

http://www.coolgunsite.com/images/1911/1967%20NM/1967NM58.jpg

The front sight was 1/8" wide and .358" high and of an odd shape for today. It is pictured here on this 1967 pistol I believe:

http://www.coolgunsite.com/images/1911/1967%20NM/1967NM50.jpg

A closer image of the front sight:
http://www.coolgunsite.com/images/1911/drake%20nm/MVC-836F.JPG

If anyone knows where to purchase this sight, please let me know, as I've been unable to locate one.

The barrel and bushing were Colt NM part numbers NM 7791435 and NM 779141 respectively. If anyone knows if these items are currently available new or new old stock, please let me know.

A picture of the bushing:
http://www.coolgunsite.com/images/1911/drake%20nm/MVC-784F.JPG

A picture of the barrel type I think was used:

http://www.coolgunsite.com/images/1911/drake%20nm/MVC-786F.JPG

Of the other parts, I am not sure yet and can find no reference for the makers of the other parts.